The house of books: Teacher turns commercial building into hi-tech library to revive reading culture

Anantnag, Nov 1: Along the busy Anantnag–Kokernag–Kishtwar highway (NH -244) at Bulbul Nowgam Square – where trucks rumble and shops crowd the roadside - a building stands apart, speaking a quieter language of silence, curiosity, and learning.

For years, locals knew it as Shahid Shafi’s and his family’s Complex — a spacious commercial structure that could have easily turned into a row of shops or offices.

But this November, a new signboard will gleam on its front: Allama Iqbal Library - A space to think, learn, and dream.

Inside, the air is calm and cool. Two well-lit halls - one for boys and another for girls - can seat more than 100 readers.

The library, situated barely 6 Kms from Anantnag town, is equipped with air conditioners, computers, CCTV cameras, individual lockers, and comfortable chairs.

A small canteen serves tea and snacks at minimal rates, and accommodation is available for students travelling from distant villages.

The man behind the initiative, Shahid Shafi Itoo, 40, teaches environmental science at Government Higher Secondary School, Dooru. He turned his family’s commercial building into a modern hi-tech library and reading centre, a project, he says, “driven by passion, not profit.”

“It would have been easy to rent it out or start a business, of ply and sanitary as others do in this area,” Shafi said. “But something inside me wouldn’t allow that. I wanted this place to breathe ideas, not commerce. The satisfaction of seeing a young student open a book and lose themselves in it is something money can never buy.”

The idea, he says, traces back to 2006–07 during his postgraduate years at the University of Kashmir.

“I spent hours at the Iqbal Library there, surrounded by books,” he recalled. “That’s when I imagined creating a centre that would be affordable, inclusive, and open to everyone-especially the underprivileged.”

Shafi envisioned more than just a reading room - a space for the exchange of ideas.

“I imagined writers, scientists, and artists meeting students here. Learning shouldn’t stay confined to classrooms - it should live in conversation and community,” he said.

A former university colleague, Ajaz Ahmad, remembered Shafi’s early passion for libraries.

“Even as a student, Shahid saw libraries not as silent rooms full of books but as living spaces where minds grow,” Ahmad said.

To ensure accessibility, Shafi has kept membership and monthly charges minimal.

“The goal is to bring youth back to books and build a sense of moral and intellectual responsibility,” he said. “Education is above commerce - it belongs to everyone, as the National Education Policy 2020 envisions.”

While acknowledging the rise of digital learning, Shafi believes printed books still hold a special charm.

“A screen can show you information,” he said. “But a book lets you feel knowledge. The smell of paper, the weight of a page -that’s something no device can replace.”

Students from nearby areas are eagerly waiting for the library’s opening.

“It’s a great initiative,” said Arif Ahmad, a college student from Brakpora. “At home, there are distractions. Here, we can focus. It feels like a temple of learning.”

Though trained in science, Shafi’s love for literature runs deep. Fluent in Kashmiri, Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English, he often weaves poetry into his lessons.

“He quotes Iqbal, Ghalib, Faiz, even Shakespeare,” said one of his students. “He connects environmental science with human values - it makes learning beautiful.”

Beyond teaching, Shafi is known for his community work.

He runs an anti-drug addiction campaign in his school and locality, organising awareness drives, debates, and counselling sessions to steer youth away from substance abuse.

“Books and learning are not just about education,” he said. “They’re about giving our youth direction - helping them find meaning beyond distractions or dangers.”

He also mentors underprivileged students and supports community initiatives.

“I have three daughters,” he said. “I’ve taught them not to chase status or wealth, but to be good human beings and lifelong learners. Money shouldn’t be the goal - knowledge should be.”

As dusk falls and traffic slows outside, the library glows softly from within.

Shafi looks around at the rows of bookshelves with quiet pride.

“Books have given me everything - my education, my peace, my purpose,” he said. “Now it’s my turn to give something back.”

The Allama Iqbal Library is set to be inaugurated in a week this November, in the golden autumn of Kashmir - marking a new chapter in the region’s learning culture.

Standing as a quiet symbol of hope, the library is proof that even amid the rush of trade and traffic, the love for books and learning still finds room to grow.

“Libraries don’t just store books,” Shafi said with a smile. “They store dreams. And I want this place to be where those dreams begin.”